15. BURNHAM.
(O.S. 6 in. (a) xlviii. S.W. (b)lii. N.E. (c)lii. S.E.
(d)liii. N.W. (e)liii. S.W. (f)lv. N.E. (g)lvi.
N.W.)
Pre-historic
d (1). Enclosure of simple plan, locally
known as Seven Ways Plain, at the S. end of
Burnham Beeches, stands on level ground
about 220 ft. above O.D. and covers slightly over
3 acres. The work is of an irregular oval shape,
and consists of a single dry ditch about 3 ft.
deep and 38 ft. wide. Much of the E. part has
been obliterated by a clay pit, and, in the present state of the work, nothing can be said as to
the position of the entrances. The enclosure
might be regarded as a small and poor example
of a plateau camp.
Condition—Much denuded, only the ditch
remains.
Ecclesiastical
c (2). Parish Church of St Peter, stands
at the S.W. end of the village. The walls are
almost entirely of flint with some clunch; the
N. transept has a N. gable built of 17th-century
brick, and part of the E. wall is of modern
brick. The roofs are tiled, except those of the
aisles, which are covered with lead. The
South East Tower was built c. 1200, and
was probably the first addition to a 12th-century cruciform church. The Chancel,
Nave, and North Transept were re-built
c. 1220, the nave being widened towards
the N. and the chancel lengthened. A North
Aisle of two bays was built c. 1230, and a little
later a South Aisle was added, the S. transept
being re-built and thrown into the aisle. Early
in the 14th century the nave was lengthened
towards the W., and, probably at the same
time, the walls of the aisles and tower were
raised; c. 1350 the aisles were lengthened, and
an additional bay was added to each arcade, the
original W. bays being re-built and widened. In
the 15th century the North Porch was built.
In the 18th century the top stage of the tower
was destroyed by fire and re-erected in wood; in
the 19th century it was re-built in flint and
stone, a spire and a stair-turret were added, part
of the N. arcade of the nave was re-built, the
South Porch and North East Vestries were
built and the whole church was considerably
restored, much of the external stonework being
renewed.
Architectural Description— The Chancel
(45 ft. by 17 ft.) has an E. window of five lights
with tracery under a pointed head; all the
external stonework is modern, but the internal
jambs, rear arch and label are of the 14th
century. In the N. wall is a 13th-century lancet
window, now blocked and visible only in the
vestry, and the remains of three similar lancets,
one partly covered by a monument; the three
other windows in the N. wall are of the 14th
century, but much restored; the easternmost is
of two cinque-foiled lights with tracery under a
pointed head, and the others are each of two
trefoiled lights and tracery in a pointed head
with an external label: the doorway opening
into the vestry is modern. In the S. wall the
easternmost and westernmost windows are of
14th-century design, and between them is a
13th-century lancet; the easternmost window is
of two trefoiled lights with a pierced spandrel
under a pointed head; the westernmost is of two
cinque-foiled lights with a quatrefoil under a
pointed head; the external stonework of all these
windows is modern: at the W. end of the wall
a pointed arch of two square orders opens into
the tower; it is probably of c. 1200, but has been
re-cut and much restored. The chancel arch,
of c. 1220, is two-centred and of two moulded
orders, with a label on the W. side; the outer
order dies into the wall, except the edge-roll
mouldings on the W. side, which are carried
down the modern jambs; the inner order rests
on modern corbels, and the lowest springing
stones are also modern. The South East Tower
is of three stages; the third stage, spire and
N.E. stair-turret are modern. The ground
stage is now filled by the organ: the pointed
arch of two square orders opening into the S.
aisle is of c. 1200; the E. and S. walls have each
a small window with a semi-circular head; only
the internal jambs and the rear arches are
original. In the second stage the E., W. and S.
walls have each a window with a semi-circular
head, square abaci and splayed jambs; the N.
wall has a similar opening, but with square
jambs, formerly a doorway, and a narrow trefoiled light of the 14th century; all the openings
are restored externally. The Nave (66 ft. by
23 ft.) has N. and S. arcades of four bays: the
N. arcade has circular columns and two-centred arches, with a moulded label on the S.
side; the easternmost bay, opening into the
transept, was built c. 1220; the arch is of similar
detail to that of the chancel arch, but the W.
half is modern; the E. respond is semi-circular,
with a moulded capital and a modern base; the
second arch, of two chamfered orders, is considerably narrower than the easternmost arch;
the E. half and the E. column are modern, the
W. half and the second column are of c. 1230,
the column having a moulded capital of slightly
different detail to that of the E. respond; the
third arch, re-built, largely with the old
material, and widened c. 1350, and the fourth
arch, of that date, are lower than the second
arch, but are of similar section; the third
column, of c. 1350, was inserted on a line with
the original W. wall of the aisle; it has a
coarsely moulded capital and a modern base;
the W. respond is of c. 1230, and was moved to
its present position when the additional bay
was built; the base is partly or wholly modern.
The S. arcade has octagonal columns, with
moulded capitals and bases, and two-centred
arches of two chamfered orders, with a roll
label on the N. side; the E. respond and the first
column have re-cut capitals and restored
bases; the second column has an original capital
and a modern base; the third column is of c.
1350, and the capital and base are rough copies
of the 13th-century work; the W. respond was
removed from the former westernmost arch
when the additional bay was added, and is
similar to the E. respond; over the E. respond
is a rectangular opening which formerly gave
access to the rood-loft. The W. wall is faced
inside with small blocks of clunch, and the
doorway has old internal jambs, but all the
external stonework is modern: the W. window
is of three lights with tracery in a pointed head;
all the external stonework is modern, but the
internal jambs, moulded rear arch and label are
of the 14th century; over the window, outside,
is a square opening, now blocked. The North
Transept (23 ft. by 19½ ft.) has a large N. window of four cinque-foiled ogee lights with
tracery in a pointed head; the jambs and mullions are richly moulded and have small
attached shafts with foliated capitals and
moulded bases; the window is of c. 1360, but
the tracery has been much restored and the
capitals inside are possibly of modern plaster.
The E. wall is divided into two bays by arched
recesses, but was originally of three bays; the
northern arch, considerably wider than the
other, is of modern plaster; the N. respond, of
early 13th-century date, has an edge-roll with a
small moulded capital; the smaller bay has an
original arch with an edge-roll, but the
label is of modern plaster; the S. respond
resembles that on the N., and between the bays
is a small square projection with the remains
of three grouped shafts under a moulded capital,
on which is a head in modern plaster; in the
smaller bay is a 16th-century window of two
lights under a square head; the moulded jambs,
mullion and label are externally of brick and
internally of clunch. The W. wall has one
bay of a 13th-century arcade similar to that
in the E. wall, with a lancet window of the
same date, partly restored outside; in the S.
angle of the wall is part of an edge-roll which
belonged to a former second bay opening into
the N. aisle; the present arch is modern. The
North Aisle (9 ft. wide) has, in the N. wall,
two windows of c. 1310, each of two trefoiled
lights with tracery in a pointed head; the
eastern window has a plain internal label with
carved stops; the western window was moved to
its present position from the original W. wall
of the aisle; between the windows is a 14th-century doorway with a moulded arch; the label
and jambs are partly modern. In the W. wall
is an early 14th-century window of two cinque-foiled lights with a quatrefoil in a pointed head,
and a chamfered rear arch; it was probably
originally in the N. wall of the nave before
the aisle was lengthened; remains of the buttress
at the former W. end of the nave are visible outside on the wall of the aisle. The South Aisle
(11½ ft. wide) has, in the S. wall, four windows;
the easternmost is a narrow trefoiled light,
probably of early 14th-century date, but completely restored outside; the second window
resembles the N. windows of the N. aisle, but
is of the 15th century; the jambs are moulded
and have been restored, the external mullion
and label are modern; the third window,
of late 14th-century date, is of two lights
with tracery similar to that of the second
window, but the internal jambs and mullion
have small attached shafts with moulded
capitals and bases, and the rear arch has a
moulded label; the westernmost window is
similar to that in the N. aisle, and has also been
re-set; the S. doorway is of the same date as
the S. arcade; the jambs and arch are of two
moulded orders with a large edge-roll, and a
moulded external label; the external jambs
are modern. In the W. wall the window
resembles that in the W. wall of the N. aisle,
and is also re-set, and outside there are traces of
the former S.W. buttress of the nave. The North
Porch has an outer entrance with a two-centred
moulded arch and double-chamfered jambs
of the 15th century, but much restored;
the label is modern; in each side-wall is a small
15th-century light with a four-centred head.
The Roof of the chancel is almost entirely of
old timbers, with arched brackets; the tie-beams have been cased and one replaced by an
iron rod. The plain timber roof of the nave
is possibly of the 14th century; all the trusses
lean towards the W., and to counteract this
defect long slanting timbers have been inserted. The flat-pitched roofs of the aisles,
both of late 15th-century date, have large
principals with arched brackets and moulded
purlins.
Fittings—Bells: six; 3rd, by Richard Eldridge, 1624, 5th, by Henry Knight, 1671.
Brasses and Indents. Brasses: In chancel—on
N. side, under harmonium, (1) to William
Tyldsley, 1563; (2) to Jacomyne, wife of William Tyldsley, 1556; (3) also to Jacomyne,
giving her father's name, Robert Littell, in
Latin, all on same slab, inscriptions in blackletter, with two shields, one charged three
crosslets fitchy between two bends, in chief a
crescent for difference for Knatchbull, impaling
a cheveron between three leopards' heads for
Wentworth; the other charged a cheveron
with a crescent thereon for Littell; on S. side,
(4) to Anne, daughter of—Wentworth, and
wife of —Knatchbull, undated, Latin inscription, see monument (2); (5) on small plate,
two lines in Latin, part of another inscription. In nave—on W. wall, (6) on slab of Purbeck marble, figures of a man and a woman (said
to be of Edmund Eyre, 1563, and his wife),
three sons and two daughters, with part of
inscription in black-letter; on same slab, (7) of
Thomas 'Eyer', 1581, lord of the manor of
Allerds in East Burnham, his three wives, four
sons, and three daughters, with two inscriptions, one in black-letter, on separate plate an
acrostic on the name Thomas 'Eyer,' in each
corner of slab shield with the arms of Eyre.
In N. aisle—(8) of Gyles Eyre and Elizabeth,
his wife, with inscription, early 16th-century;
in same slab, indents of a man and a woman,
nine sons, brasses of fifteen daughters and inscription in black-letter to Wyllm. Aldriche and
Agnes, his wife, early 16th-century. Indents:
In N. aisle—at W. end, (1–2) two slabs with
indents of inscriptions, one slab having also
marks, possibly indent of figure. Chest: in the
chancel, of iron, three locks, two with staples,
heavy handles at ends, late 16th or early 17th-century. Glass: in tracery of windows in N.
aisle, fragments. Monuments and Floor-slabs.
Monuments: In chancel—on N. wall, (1) of
George Evelyn, of Huntercombe, 1657, and
Dudly, his wife, daughter of William Balls of
Catlidge, Suffolk, 1661, of black and white
marble, half figures in double-headed niche,
with coat of arms; in frieze of base, kneeling
figures of two sons; (2) tablet to Paul, son of
Sir Nicholas Wentworth, 1593, his mother,
Dame Jane Wentworth, his daughter Anne,
wife of Norton Knatchbull, and his son Francis,
with two shields bearing arms; on S. wall, (3)
of John Wright, vicar of the parish, 1561–1594,
bust in niche, with Latin inscription, undated,
and shield bearing arms. In N. aisle—on N.
wall, (4) tablet to Edmund Eyre, 1650, black
and white marble, with shield bearing arms.
Floor-slabs: In N. aisle—(1) to John Lidgold,
1697, Elizabeth, his wife, 1689, and Elizabeth,
his wife, 1700; (2) to Mary, wife of Thomas
Eyre, 1646. Painting: on W. arch of tower,
traces of foliated scroll pattern (see also Screen
and Miscellanea below). Panelling: in N. transept, carved, 16th and 17th-century, nearly all of
foreign workmanship. Piscinæ: in the chancel, with chamfered jambs and trefoiled head,
possibly modern, but stone badly decayed: in
sill of easternmost window in S. aisle, quatrefoil basin, projection destroyed, 14th-century.
Plate: includes cover paten, no date marks.
Screen: in N. transept, desk of front seats made
up of remains of rood-screen, moulded top rail
and stiles with flat buttresses, large batten
panels, painted blue, some pierced with small
holes, mouldings painted red with small black
flowers, late 15th-century. Sedilia: in S. wall
of chancel, recess, with flat arch, apparently
old, jambs modern. Miscellanea: on sill of a
S. window of chancel, fragment of cusping and
small vault, probably from canopied niche,
richly coloured and gilded, 14th or 15th-century: on pillars of S. arcade, cut inscriptions,
'The Pope is a knave', 'The Pope is a vilin';
others defaced: built into W. wall of S. aisle,
outside, a few worked stones, 13th-century, and,
apparently, a small sundial.
Condition—Structurally good; some of the
old stone badly decayed.
Secular
f(3). Burnham Abbey, remains, now farmbuildings, and Moat are about 1¼ miles S. of
the village. The walls are partly of flint and
clunch, partly of brick.
The buildings are of peculiar interest as they
indicate almost completely the plan of a small
Augustinian abbey. The chapter-house doorway is especially noticeable.
The Abbey of St. Mary the Virgin at Burnham
was founded in 1266, for Augustinian canonesses; it was apparently built directly after the
foundation, except the Infirmary, which is probably of slightly later date, and some additions
and restorations were made in brick in the 16th
century. The abbey was dissolved in 1539, and
the buildings were altered and converted into a
dwelling-house; further alterations were made
later in the same century. The plan was of
the usual type, surrounding a square cloister
garth, with the church, consisting of nave and
quire, on the S.; the sacristy, chapter-house,
parlour and a warming-house on the E.; the
frater with screens and buttery on the N.; the
guest-house, etc., on the W. The kitchen
extended towards the N. from the W. end of the
buttery, and there was a chamber for storing
fuel at the N. end of the warming-house, which
was connected by a covered walk or passage with
the infirmary and a gardrobe on the E. Other
buildings, of the 16th century, formerly
extended E. of the infirmary. An existing
drawing of 1730 shows that the N. and E. ranges
of the abbey were almost intact at that date,
and a water-colour sketch of 1830 shows the N.
windows still in existence. The remains now
consist of a fragment of the quire, most of the
E. range with the fuel-house and the sub-vault
of the rere-dorter, part of the frater, a corner
of the guest-house, a fragment of the kitchen,
and part of the infirmary. The foundations of
the E. end of the Church have been discovered,
extending beyond the E. range, and showing
that it was a plain, rectangular building, about
27 ft. wide, and probably about 108 ft. long;
the remaining part of the quire forms the S.
wall of the sacristy; at the E. angle of this wall
is the moulded W. jamb of a large window, and
further W. is a large blocked doorway, which
formerly opened into the sacristy, and has a
two-centred arch, with a string-course, now
flush with the wall, enclosing a gable in which
is a circular sex-foiled panel surrounded by
three trefoiled panels; the string-course is continued horizonally along the wall, but the
mouldings, with those of the jambs of the doorway, are now cut away; low in the wall is a
blocked, round headed opening, possibly only
used by the builders; higher up, and still
further W., is a blocked 15th-century doorway
with iron hooks for hinges, which opened on to
the screen between the quire and the nave; in
the upper part of the wall, near the E. end, is
another blocked opening, with splayed inner
jambs; the W. end of the wall, projecting beyond
the sacristy, is faced with 16th-century and
modern brick.
The Cloister originally surrounded a courtyard probably about 72 ft. square; in the N.W.
corner are remains of a lavatory with a moulded
segmental arch, which was almost entirely
destroyed when the 16th-century doorway,
opening into the frater, was inserted, and the
part that remains is blocked. The height of the
roof of the cloister walk is shown by holes for
joists, now filled up, in the wall of the E. range.

The Abbey of St. Mary the Virgin, Burnham
E. Range—The Sacristy (22 ft. by 16 ft.),
now a stable with a hayloft in the upper storey,
is at the S. end of the E. range, and has on the
ground floor, at the N. end of the E. wall, a
16th-century window of two four-centred lights
under a square head, all of brick, except the
stone mullion: near the window is the rough
brick opening of a fireplace inserted in the 16th
century, and beyond it is an original lancet
window, with chamfered jambs and head:
near the S. end is a small blocked doorway with
chamfered jambs of clunch, and a four-centred
arch of brick: on the first floor at the N. end,
is a 16th-century window, with a square head,
now blocked; the label has almost disappeared;
the outline of a trefoiled head of earlier date is
visible inside; S. of this window are the remains
of a brick chimney stack, with an opening for
the fireplace, which has moulded brick jambs
and four-centred head, filled by a modern window; beyond it is an original lancet, with
chamfered jambs and head. In the W. wall,
on the ground floor, are two doorways; the
northern is original, with chamfered jambs,
and drop arch with a moulded label; the other
has a modern wood frame but retains the original inner jambs and rear arch. On the first floor
are remains of three 16th-century windows;
two are blocked, and the third, partly blocked,
forms the entrance to the hayloft. Interior:—
At the W. end is a passage which formerly contained the stairs leading to the dorter and is
divided from the rest of the ground floor by a
thin wall of clunch. The ceiling is of the 16th
century, and has large open joists, resting on a
rough beam supported at each end by a curved
bracket. The open roof, also of the 16th century, has queen-post trusses, with wind braces,
etc. This is the only part of the building of
which the upper storey is still in use. The
Chapter House (33½ ft. by 20 ft.), now a stable,
N. of the sacristy, extends towards the E.
beyond the adjoining buildings; it has a large
W. doorway, with jambs of two chamfered
orders, the moulded capitals of the original
detached shafts remain externally; the two-centred arch is of two moulded orders, and has
moulded inner and outer labels, the outer with
mask stops. The E. wall has three original
lancet windows with chamfered jambs and
heads; the moulded internal label is continued
as a string-course along the wall; all the windows are partly blocked; the sills appear to
have been used as the heads of lower openings,
now also blocked. In the S. wall is a lancet
similar to those in the E. wall, partly blocked;
the moulded label is continued towards the W.;
the spaces for the original floor-joists are
visible, but most of the upper part of the
wall has disappeared. The Parlour and the
Warming-house, originally separated from each
other by a passage leading to the infirmary, are
in a ruinous condition; in the W. wall is a small
original lancet, set low down, and now blocked;
further N. are the jambs and relieving arch of
a doorway, with a modern frame, which probably opened into the passage; at the N. end
of the wall, opening into the frater, is a 16th-century doorway, now blocked. In the N. wall
is an original doorway, with chamfered jambs
and two-centred drop arch; the battened door is
mediæval, and has ornamental strap-hinges;
W. of the doorway is a 16th-century window
with a wood frame, and on the E. is an original
locker with rebated jambs and a chamfered
wood lintel. Fragments of the E. wall remain
at the N. end, and retain part of a 16th-century
window, and the site of an original fireplace;
and at the S. end, adjoining the Chapter House,
is some brickwork, probably a fireplace, also of
the 16th century. The Dorter extended over
the whole of the E. range; in the N. wall a
number of blocked 16th-century windows marks
the position of the original lancets; and there is
also part of a 16th-century window with a wood
frame. The L-shaped building at the N. end
of the E. range contained the fuel-house on the
ground floor and the rere-dorter and a passage
on the first floor. In the W. wall are two lancet
windows; the southern is probably of slightly
later date than the other, as it is built into
a doorway of which one jamb and part of the
arch remain; at the N. end of the wall is a
small 16th-century window with a wood frame
and an iron grill, and below it is an arch over
the main drain. In the upper part of the E.
wall are traces of two lancet windows. The
position of the first-floor joists is visible.
N. Range—The Frater (96 ft. by 18½ ft.) was
on the ground floor, without cellarage; the W.
wall and almost the whole of the N. wall have
disappeared; the only remaining detail in the
N. wall is part of a jamb of the easternmost window. At the E. end of the S. wall (visible on
both sides) is a blocked 16th-century opening,
apparently a doorway; near the W. jamb, on
the N. (interior) side of the wall, is a fragment
of 16th-century brick partition-wall; further
W., on the same side, are two blocked doorways,
the first with moulded brick jambs and four-centred head, the other with plain jambs and a
wood lintel; W. of these doorways is a large
fireplace, with moulded jambs and segmental
arch of stone, inserted in the 16th century;
the base of a large chimney stack projects
on the S. side of the wall; above the fireplace is a fragment of the relieving arch of
the original entrance from the cloisters to the
frater; in the upper part of the wall is a 16th-century fireplace with moulded brick jambs
and four-centred arch with sunk spandrels
under a square head. A fragment of the original
stone hearth remains; in the masonry blocking
the fireplace is a moulded stone from a window.
There are traces of 16th-century painting on
the E. wall, and at the E. end of the S.
wall.
W. Range—Of the Guest-house, which occupied part of the western range, only a fragment
of the N.E. corner remains, and some masonry
further N. is probably a fragment of the N.E.
corner of the kitchen.
The Infirmary (originally 43½ ft. from N. to
S. and 23 ft. from E. to W.) N.E. of the other
buildings, and now a cowshed, was divided into
two storeys in the 16th century; it is connected
with the E. wall of the warming-house by a brick
wall, in which are remains of two windows and
a modern doorway. In the W. wall are two
lancet windows, similar to those in the Chapter
House (see above) but of slightly later date,
wider, and without labels; at the S. end of the
wall is a small square 16th-century opening,
now blocked, with chamfered stone jambs, and
a head and sill of wood. At the W. end of the
N. wall is an original doorway, also blocked,
which led to the gardrobe of the infirmary; it
has moulded jambs and a two-centred drop
arch: E. of the doorway, inside, is a small
square locker, rebated for a shutter; further E.
is a 16th-century window, of three four-centred
lights, with moulded brick jambs, a square head
and a chamfered brick label; it is now blocked,
and in the blocking is part of the carved vault
of a canopied niche: in the upper storey is a
similar window of three lights, also blocked.
In the remaining part of the E. wall is the
rough brick opening of a fireplace, with part of
a flue; a slight projection of brickwork from
the chimney stack indicates the position of a
former 16th-century addition: N. of the fireplace is another rough opening with a semi-circular splayed head, now blocked; some of
the stones built into it are moulded. Of the
Gardrobe, N.W. of the infirmary, only the E.
wall remains, with a small square recess for
a lamp, and jambs of either a door or a window; the wall is continued, in 16th-century
brick, and it joins the boundary wall of the
precincts; in it is a brick doorway which has
moulded jambs, a four-centred arch, with sunk
spandrels, and a moulded square label. S. of
the abbey, but within the precincts, is a square
Dovecot, built in the 16th century, of 2¼-in.
bricks; the roof is thatched and hipped on all
sides. In the S. wall is a modern doorway, and
under the eaves in the E. wall is a small window with a three-centred head. The buttresses
are modern. The walls inside have tiers of
small recesses.
The Barn adjoining the S. end of the E.
range is probably of the 17th century, and is
weather-boarded, the roof has queen-post
trusses supported by curved brackets. E. and
N.E. of the buildings the wall of the precincts
is very thick; it is built of a mixture of materials, and is roofed with tiles. The boundary
wall N. of the frater, etc., is of 16th-century
brick, and has, in the S. face, a series of small
recesses with triangular heads.
Of the Moat only fragments remain.
Condition—Of buildings, ruinous, suffering
from present usage and urgently in need of preservation; many of the walls have fallen down
recently.
d(4). Moated Site, with Ramparts, known as
Harlequin's, or Hardicanute's Moat, is situated
in Burnham Beeches on level ground, about 270
ft. above O.D. The work is quadrilateral in
shape, with one right angle, and covers about
two acres. It consists of a single rampart and
ditch, now nearly dry, with a slight bank upon
the counter-scarp. The rampart is 8 ft. high
and 20 ft. wide, and the ditch is 7 ft. deep and
26 ft. wide. There are traces of two transverse
banks, 3 ft. high, running from N. to S., and of
another bank running from E. to W. On the E.
side is an entrance with a causeway across the
ditch, and on the N.W. and S.W. sides there
are modern breaks.
Condition—Fairly good.
g(5). Homestead Moat, S.E. of Cippenham,
said to be the site of a former palace. The
enclosed area shows traces of irregularity, such
as would be caused by foundations of buildings. There is an entrance through the N.
arm.
Condition—Good; but the ditch is nearly
dry.
(See also Burnham Abbey above and Cippenham Place below.)
Church Street, N. side
c(6). The Market Hall and two Cottages on
the E. were probably originally one house;
they are of two storeys, the hall higher than
the cottages, and the walls are timber-framed
with brick filling; the roofs are tiled. Over the
entrance of the hall are the dates 1271–1539 in
modern figures; probably the later date is that
of the existing building. The Hall has a large
gateway of oak with chamfered jambs and flat
four-centred arch; in front the gabled upper
storey projects, and the timber-framing is
painted; the back is also gabled. E. of the ridge
of the roof is a square chimney stack of early
17th-century thin bricks. In front the lower
storey of the two Cottages is of modern
brick, the timbers of the upper storey are much
out of the horizontal, and the filling is of
plaster; there is one dormer window. At the
back the filling is of 17th-century brick, and
the chimney stack at the E. end is built of thin
bricks.
Condition—Of hall, fairly good; of cottages,
poor.
c(7). Cottages, four, W. of the Market Hall,
are each of two storeys. They were built of
timber and brick, probably early in the 17th
century, and about a century later were refronted with brick; in the 19th century the
westernmost cottage was encased almost entirely
with brick, but it has old timber-framing with
the original brick filling in the gable of the W.
wall. At the back the easternmost cottage is
gabled and projects beyond the others, making
the plan of the group L-shaped.
Condition—Poor.
S. side

Burnham (Village), Plan Shewing Monuments
c(8–10). Cottages, three, detached, are each of
two storeys, built chiefly of brick and timber;
the roofs are tiled. The westernmost cottage,
at the N.E. corner of the churchyard, is probably of late 16th or early 17th-century date,
but is much restored with modern brick; in
front and at the W. side the upper storey retains old timbers, now painted; the E. side is
also timber-framed, and the filling is covered
with plaster. The second cottage, now a shop,
opposite the Market Hall, is of the 16th or
17th century, but has a modern front; the W.
end, now partly enclosed by a covered gateway,
is gabled and shows some of the original timber-framing, and the remains of a bracket under
the upper storey, which formerly projected, but
is now under-built with brick. The third cottage, at the end of a row, W. of the Fire Station,
is probably of the 16th century, and is gabled in
front; the upper storey formerly projected, but
has been under-built with modern brick; the W.
side faces an alley, and has original plaster
filling in the upper storey. Some old beams
remain in the wattle and daub ceilings.
Condition—Of the third cottage, poor; of the
others, good.
High Street, E. side, from N. to S.
c(11). House, now divided into three cottages (see Plate, p. 12), N. of the Swan Inn,
is of two storeys, and is timber-framed, with
filling partly of brick and partly of plaster.
The roofs are tiled. The middle block was
built probably in the 16th century, the extensions on the N. and S. were added early in the
17th century. The plan was originally rectangular, running back from the street; the
extension on the N. side is a block of about the
same size as the original building, with modern
additions beyond it; the S. extension is built on
to the W. half of the original building and has
a low modern addition at the back. The front of
the 16th-century block has modern brick filling
in the lower storey, the upper storey projects,
and is supported on a moulded bressumer; the
timbers are painted and the filling is of plaster;
the back is original and is gabled. The lower
storey of the S. extension has filling of thin
bricks, the upper storey projects, and the timbers
are further apart than in the 16th-century walls.
On the S. side the gable is of modern brick, and
there is an original chimney stack in the E.
half of the wall. The N. extension is gabled,
and has a modern brick front. In the 16th-century part of the house are open timber ceilings. The N. extension has stop-chamfered
beams in the ceilings; the S. extension has, on
the ground floor, a wide fireplace, partly filled
in, with cupboards enclosing chimney-corners,
and original beams in the ceilings; and in the
floor of the upper storey are broad oak boards.
Condition—Fairly good.
c(12). The Swan Inn is of two storeys, built
probably late in the 16th or early in the 17th
century, but much altered; the front part is
entirely modern. A room at the back retains
the original open timber ceiling of rough oak.
Condition—Good.
c(13). House, now a baker's shop, nearly opposite Church Street, was built probably late
in the 16th or early in the 17th century, and retains some old timber-framing at the back. The
front has been re-faced with modern brick; the
upper storey formerly projected, as shown by
the notches in the open timber ceiling of the
shop. Other rooms have old ceiling-beams.
Condition—Good.
c(14). House, now a shop, in front of Baldwin's Brass Foundry, was built probably in the
17th century, but has been re-faced with modern
brick; the old timber-framing remains in the
side walls of a large covered gateway. The roof
is tiled.
Condition—Fairly good.
W. side, from N. to S.
c(15). House, now a shop, opposite the Swan
Inn, is of two storeys, built probably early in
the 17th century, of brick and timber; the brick
filling is of later date than the timbers, which
are cemented. The roof is tiled. The upper
storey is gabled at the S. end of the front.
Condition—Good.
c(16). House, now a butcher's shop, almost
opposite the Post-office, is of two storeys, with
walls of brick and timber. The roof is tiled.
The N. part of the house was built early in the
16th century; the S. part was probably added
early in the 17th century, the middle block
was also of that date, but has been re-built.
The original house was probably at the
corner of the market square, and the 17th-century extension the first of the buildings
which now fill up the site of the market place.
In front the 16th-century part is gabled, and
has a covered gateway; the upper storey is
original, and formerly projected, but the lower
storey has been built out flush with it under the
bressumer; the back is also original. The
front of the southern extension has been refaced, the back is of 17th-century brick
and timber, and is gabled. In the original
house the open timber ceiling of the ground
floor is divided from E. to W. into three bays by
heavy beams; in the S. wall, below the westernmost beam, is a blocked doorway, probably of
early 16th-century date, and formerly the entrance to the house; it has chamfered jambs
and a flat four-centred arch of oak. The heavy
timbers of the roof are visible. The southern
extension contains some 17th-century chamfered beams and roof timbers.
Condition—Good.
c(17). House, now three cottages, S. of
Church Street, and almost opposite Baldwin's
Brass Foundry, is of two storeys, built probably
in the 17th century. The timbers are painted.
and the brick filling covered with plaster. There
are three dormer windows. Inside the house
some old ceiling-beams are visible.
Condition—Poor.
c(18). The Garibaldi Inn, at the S. end of the
street, is of two storeys, built in the 17th century, of brick and timber; the roof is tiled. In
front the brick filling is modern. The S. end is
gabled.
Condition—Good.
e(19). Cottage, N.W. of East Burnham
Park, 1½ miles N.E. of the church, is of two
storeys, built of brick and timber in the first
half of the 17th century. It is gabled at each
end, and the upper floor is lighted by dormer
windows. The plain square chimneys are
original.
Condition—Fairly good.
e(20). Barn at Allards Farm, N.E. of East
Burnham Park, was built probably in the first
half of the 17th century; it is of one storey,
with walls of brick and timber; the timbers
have been tarred; the roof is tiled. The plan
is L-shaped, and the sides facing the farmyard
are open.
Condition—Fairly good.
b(21). Houses, two, at Brook-end, two miles
N. of the church, one on each side of the road
to Beaconsfield. They are each of two storeys,
built early in the 17th century, but re-faced
with modern or 18th-century brick. A little
original timber-framing remains. The roofs are
tiled.
Condition—Good; much re-built.
Egypt, N.E. corner of Burnham Beeches
d(22). Cottages, two, on the E. side of the
road, are each of two storeys, built in the first
half of the 17th century. In front the eastern
cottage is of late 17th-century brick, and has
two gables; at the back the upper storey is
of original brick and timber, the lower storey
is faced with brick of later date. A Shed at the
E. end is partly of original brick and timber,
partly weather-boarded. The second cottage is
of original brick and timber, restored with
modern brick. The roofs are tiled.
Condition—Very dilapidated.
d(23). House, formerly cottages, opposite
(22), is of two storeys, and has been entirely
re-faced with modern brick, except at the back,
where a little 17th-century brick and timber
remains.
Condition—Good.
a(24). Pennlands Farm, at the N. end of the
parish, about 3 miles N.E. of the church, is of
two storeys, built probably early in the 17th
century, and timber-framed, with brick filling,
which is partly modern. The roof is tiled. The
plan is rectangular, with modern additions on
the N. and E., and the central chimney stack
is of thin bricks. The kitchen retains some old
chamfered beams in the ceiling, and a wide
fireplace with chimney corners, partly filled in.
Condition—Good.
f(25). Huntercombe Manor House, 1 mile
S.E. of the church, is of two storeys and an
attic; it was probably originally of timber construction, but is now faced with brick and
covered with plaster. The roof is tiled. The
original house was built in the 14th century,
and then consisted of the present hall, with the
screens and a kitchen wing at the W. end, and a
solar wing at the E. end. The W. end has been
considerably altered, though the kitchen, now a
morning room, with the buttery and a passage,
still remain; the solar wing was re-built and
extended towards the N. at the end of the 17th
century. The staircase, N.E. of the hall, was
added probably c. 1650; the whole building was
much altered and enlarged in the 19th century.
The remains of the mediæval structure are
especially interesting.
The E. Elevation is possibly of late 17th
date, much altered: the S. Elevation retains
some traces of the original arrangement, now
covered with modern plaster; at the E. end
the re-built wing is higher than the rest of
the house; at the W. end the kitchen wing
is gabled, and was probably always of two
storeys; the hall, between the wings, remains
of one storey, but has been altered externally;
the old roof, running E. and W., is visible
behind the modern coping. The other elevations are modern. Interior:—The hall is of
two bays and retains an original roof-truss
with a cambered collar-beam, which has curved
braces forming an obtuse two-centred arch of
two chamfered orders, finishing on broach
stops a few feet above the floor; the doorways,
with the doors, are of late 17th-century date,
and have moulded over-doors of classical design;
on the walls is some early 17th-century panelling, re-set. The buttery, W. of the hall, is
lined with early 17th-century panelling. The
dining-room, in the E. wing, has large bolection-moulded panels, and doorways with overdoors similar to those in the hall, all of late
17th-century date. A room opening out of
the dining-room has similar panelling and
doorways, and a plaster ceiling modelled
in high relief, with a large circular panel
painted by Verrio. The staircase has an open
well and a closed outer string, plain newels,
a heavy moulded handrail, without ramps, and
twisted, turned balusters; the balustrade is continued round the open well at the top, and the
ceiling has enriched mouldings and a painted
central medallion. On the first floor a bedroom
over the drawing-room in the E. wing has
panelling similar to that in the dining-room.
In the W. wing a bedroom over the former
kitchen has a rough open timber roof, ceiled
on the collar-beams, and possibly original; the
trusses have curved angle-bracketing.
Condition—Good; much altered.
Cippenham
g(26). Cippenham Place, house and moat,
about 1¾ miles S.E. of the church. The House is
of two storeys and an attic, built in the middle
of the 16th century, of brick and timber, altered
and enlarged in the 19th century; the roof is
tiled. The plan of the original building is
L-shaped, facing N., with the short wing on
the S.W.; at the W. end, between the wings,
are modern additions. In front some of the brick
filling is modern, and the timbers are partly
restored, the upper storey projects, and the
beams supporting it are moulded; on the ground
floor are two original windows, with wood mullions, and on the first floor is an original window, now blocked. The E. end of the house
is partly restored, and at the back is some old
brickwork in modern timber-framing. Interior:—On the ground floor, the hall, the older
part of the kitchen, and a small store-room were
originally one room, with a staircase lobby and
another room on the E.; some of the rooms
have original beams and exposed joists in the
ceilings, and there is one wide fireplace partly
blocked. On the first floor the walls show their
timber construction, and in the attic the timbers of the roof, with a moulded purlin, are
visible. Some of the doors are old, and have
strap-hinges.
Of the Moat, three sides remain.
Condition—Of house, good; of moat, poor.
g(27). Stable and Barns at Cippenham Court,
about 17/8 miles S.E. of the church, are of
late 16th or early 17th-century date. The
Stable, E. of the house, is of two storeys, the
lower storey of original thin bricks, the upper
storey of vertical timbers with old brick filling;
the S. side was re-faced late in the 17th century,
and there are modern additions at each end.
The roof is tiled. The Barn, E. of the stable,
has 17th-century timber and brick at the E. end,
and a weather-boarded gable. The plan of the
second Barn, S. of the stable, is L-shaped; it
is of 17th-century timber and brick, and the
upper part of the S. side is weather-boarded.
Both barns are open to the roof, and have
queen-posts, and arched brackets to the tie-beams; the roof of one wing of the second barn
is covered with slate, the other roofs are tiled.
Condition—Good.
g(28). House, now two cottages, formerly the
'Jolly Gardeners' Inn', about 15/8 miles S.E. of
the church, is of two storeys, built probably
early in the 17th century, and restored later in
the same century. The plan is rectangular,
facing N.E. In front the brick filling is of late
17th-century date, the upper storey projects at
the N.W. end, and is gabled; at the S.E. end
is a dormer window, with a plastered gable on
which is the date 1699. The N.W. side house
is covered with lath and plaster, and has a projecting chimney stack of late 17th-century
brick. The roof is tiled. Some old beams
remain in the ceilings.
Condition—Poor.
Unclassified
b(29). Root Mound at Dropmore, possibly a
bell barrow.
Condition—Much altered.